Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-09-24


gufshed her. put on that OF a queen ana
woman of business. The transformation was
sudden but entire.
@Thy words are very wise, Macumazahn.
Forgive nae my folly. All, what queen
should be if only had no hearth To be
heartlsss--that Il to conquer ALL Passion is
like the lightning; 1t is beautiful, and it links
the earth 10 heaven, but alas, il hlindsl
"And thou thinkest that my sister Sorais
would levy war upon me. So be it. She
shall not prevail against me. /, too, have my
friends and my retainers. There are many,
say, who will shout 'Nylepthar when my
pennon runs up on peak and pinnacle, and
the light of my watch fires leaps tonight
from crag 10 crag bearing the message OF my
war / will break her strength and scatter
her armies. Eternal night shall be the por-
ton OF the Lady of the Night Give me
that parchment and the ink. SO. Now sum-
mon me the officer in the ante room. He is a
trusty man."
did as was bid, and the man, veteran
and quiet looking gentleman of the guard,
named Kara, entered, bowling low
"Takc this parchment" said Nyleptha; ut
Is thy warrant, and guard every place of In
and out going in the apartments of my sis
ter Sorais, Lady of the Night and queen
of the Zu-Vondi. Let none come in and
none go out, or thy life shall pay the cost
The man looked startled, but he merely said,
@The queens word shall be done and depart
ed Then Nyleptha sent messenger TO Sir
Henry, and presently he arrived, looking un-
commonly uncomfortable. Thought that an
other outburst was about to follow, hut won-
derful are the ways Of women. She said not
word about Sorais and his supposed incon-
stancy, greeting him with friendly nod and
stating simply that she required his advice upon
high matters All the same there was a look
in her eye and sort Of suppressed energy in
her manner toward him that made me think
she had not forgotten the affair, but was
keeping it for a private occasion.
Just after Curtis arrived the officer re-
turned, and reported that Sorais wns gone
The bird had flown to the temple, stating that
she was going, as was sometimes the custom
among Zu-Vendi ladies of rank, to spend the
night in meditation before the altar We
looked at each other Significantly. The blow
had fallen very soon.
Then we set to work.
Generals who could be trusted were sun
moned from their quarters, and MS much of
the state affairs as was thought desirable was
told TO each, strict injunctions being given to
them to get all their available force together.
The same was done with such of the more
powerful lords as Nyleptha knew she could
rely on, several of whom left that very day
for distant parts OF the country TO tather UP
their tribesmen and retainers. Sealed orders
were dispatched to the rulers of far off cities,
and some twenty messengers were sent Off
before nightfall with instructions TO ride
early and late till they reached the dis
tant chiefs to whom their letters were adj
dressed; also many spies were set to work.
All the afternoon and evening we labored,
assisted by some confidential scribes, Nylep-
tina showing an energy and resource of mind
that astonshed me, and 1t was o'clock be-
fore we got back to our quarters Here we
heard from Alphonse, who was deeply ag-
grieved because our non-return had spoiled
his dinner (for he had turned cook again
now, that Good had come back from his
hawking and gone on duty. AS instructions
had already been given TO the officer of tho
outer guard to double the sentrics at the gate,
and as we had no reason to fear any imme-
diate danger, we did not think it worth whilc
to hunt him up and tell him anything of what
had passed, which at best was, under the
peculiar circumstances of the case, one OF
those tasks one prefers to postpone; SO, inter
swallowing our food, we turned in to get
some much needed rest. Before we did so,
however, it occurred to Curtis to tell old Um-
slopogaas to keep lockout in the neighbour
hood of Nyleptha's private apartments. UNI
slopogaas was now well known about the
place, and by the queens order allowed to
pass whittier he would by the guards; per-
mission of which he often awaited himself by
roaming about the palace during the still
hours in nocturnal fashion that he favored,
and which is by no means uncommon among
black men generally. His presence in the
corridors would not, therefore, be likely to
excite remark. Without any comment tho
Zulu took up his ak and departed, and wo
also departed TO bed.
seemed to have been asleep but a few min
utes when / was awakened by peculiar sem
sation of uneasiness. | felt that somebody was
in the room and looking at ME, and instantly
sat up to see to my surprise that it was al
ready dawn, and that there, standing at tho
foot of my couch, and looking peculiarly
grim and gaunt in the gray light, was Um-
slopogaas himself.
'How long hast thou been thereF' asked,
testify, for it is not pleasant to be aroused in
such fashion.
"Mayhap tue hair or an hour, flacuniaslhn.
l have word for thee"
"Speak on,n l said, now wide enough
awake.
''As was bid, went last nightto the place
OF the White Queen, and hid myself behind n
pillar in the second anteroom, beyond which is
the sleeping place Of the queen. Bougwan
Good was in the first anteroom alone, and out
side the curtain of that room was a sentry; but
4 a a
and ] did, gliding behind them both There
/ waited for many hours. when suddenly l
perceived dark figure coming secretly
toward me. 1t was the figure Of a woman,
and in her hand she held dagger Behind
that figure crept another, unseen by the
woman. II was Bougwan following in her
tracks. His shoes were off and for SO fat a
man he followed very well The woman
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